Fears grow as flooding displaces 130,000 in Myanmar

A vast area of farmland across four provinces lies under muddy water with rescue teams trying to reach villages by boat to provide food to those who are unable or refuse to leave their homes. A vast area of farmland across four provinces in southeastern Myanmar lies under muddy water with rescue teams trying to reach villages by boat to provide food to those who are unable or refuse to leave their homes. (AFP/SAW KYAW SAN OO) Fears that embankments could burst under fresh rains mounted on Wednesday (Aug 1) in flooded southeastern Myanmar, where more than 130,000 people have been forced from their homes and a dozen people killed. A vast area of farmland across four provinces lies under muddy water with rescue teams trying to reach villages by boat to provide food to those who are unable or refuse to leave their homes. Above the town of Madauk in Bago region, floodwaters are only inches from the top of vulnerable embankments that are so far holding fast, but locals are afraid that fresh monsoon rains could spell disaster. “If this embankment doesn’t hold firm against the next flood, many more villages will be at high risk,” rescue team leader Hlaing Min Oo told AFP as he oversaw a chain of volunteers loading a boat with food destined for marooned flood victims. “For the moment, there’s little chance that the water levels will go down.” Evacuation orders are still in place across Bago, Karen, Mon and Taninthari provinces with… [Read full story]